Dusty

Miraculous America

Waiting patiently for Poyzz to puzzle over his riddle Ossar slithered across to Beek where the miniature eagle had just finished eating his chocolate and was setting up a game board. It was still massive for the kwami, even in its miniaturized form. Pulling out the rule book the snake tilted his head from one side to the next pouring over the intricacies of the game. It was nice that they got the chance to relax and do something inconsequential for once. It was a pleasant breather from the constant action from before. Still, there remained an air of concern reside over the group. The looming problems they sought to ignore for even that short space of time hung over them like overripe fruit, just waiting to fall and make itself known. Ossar could almost taste it and the rest of their posse seemed aware as well. The usually cheerful and friendly Hoppi was quiet, the energetic Poyzz sat still, and Beek. Well Beek was being Beek.

When Poyzz gave up on the riddle Ossar looked a bit indignant. “Harder? Heavens no my friend, that was an easy one. I gave ye a bone due to our time apart, as I thought thou might hath become lenient in your capacity to resolve my more complex puzzles. I had close to a hundred years to devise them after all.” Closing his eyes Ossar attempted to think of a way he could give the ferret a hint, without giving the game away entirely. “What do liars’ hate, alongside those who seek to hide me? What do the wise seek, alongside justice and police? Come on now I rhyme with tooth, I am the…?”

The Astonishing X-Men

Reveille Final

Basil Floros

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Basic Profile

Gender: Male

Age: Sixteen

Physical Traits: Basil is an adolescent Mediterranean male of average height and weight. He is a pleasant looking person, with dark black hair that is neatly trimmed around his ears, which contrasts nicely with his olive eyes. He is clearly athletic, and in excellent physical condition, more than likely due to a strict workout routine which has granted him a muscular form with a strong jawline. His face and body is well proportioned for the most part, with the only outlier being his slightly oversized ears. Overall Basil is quite proud of his visage and appearance, and maintains his better features semi-religiously.

Hometown: Corinth, Greece

Academics: If it wasn’t for Basil’s decent comprehension for mathematics he would be a below average student, faring poorly in most other subjects, especially in writing and English. His grasp of the language has improved dramatically over the years from what it was, and he only struggles to find the right words occasionally.

Personality Traits

• Patriotic
• Happy-go-lucky
• Proud
• Independent
• Loud

• Vain
• Arrogant
• Lenient
• Impulsive
• Egotistical

Gifted Youngster

Call-sign: Reveille

Costume: Usually Basil’s clothing is shredded or lost when he uses his powers, which was understandably unfortunate for him. After a clever bit of chemistry from another mutant however Basil was gifted several outfits made of a material that dissolves and reforms much like Basil does. His typical uniform is a pair of grey boots which Basil straps on using latches instead of separate laces. A pair of blue cargo pants, and a yellow tank top with a white undershirt beneath that. Basil’s belt is the key to the entire outfit’s reformation each time Basil dissolves, the star doesn't dissolve and acts similar to Basil’s brain, in maintaining a connection with the clothing particles and recalling their exact formation allowing for them to reform once more.

Mutation

Basil’s body isn’t made of the same carbon material as most of humanity. His physiology is far more complex than even the already multifaceted intricacies of the human body. His X gene is centered on the production of hydrogen, electric sparks, and non-Newtonian matter and elements unknown to the periodic table. All of which come together to grant Basil a varied arsenal of mutant abilities including, shrinking, expansion, explosions, and liquefying and solidifying transmutation.

Liquid Transmutation
Due to his natural physiology the majority of Basil’s body is made up of a non-Newtonian non-flammable matter, which reacts to electric currents and hydrogen gas similar in part to liquid sand. Through concentration Basil can secrete hydrogen gas throughout his bulk causing his body to bubble and transform into a liquid-like state, which can be controlled through electrical currents sent from his brain. This state is not a pure liquid however, and can only be stretched so far before it is torn and damaged resulting in severe physical trauma in Basil’s normalized form. His liquid state is malleable like soft putty, and can reform after receiving piercing damage, and is generally disgusting to look at. The only part that remains entirely intact and solid is his brain, which can be moved around to any part of Basil’s liquid body at will. The liquid transmutation can be total, or partial and can happen almost instantly. Basil can also preform the opposite, reversing the effects by removing any traces of hydrogen and making his skin stiff, and harder than a rock. This allows Basil to let high projectiles such as bullets to pass right through his invulnerable liquid form while pounding a target with fists like stone.

Expansion/Shrinking
Through complex electrical signals from his brain, and a serious amount of concentration Basil can grow to about thirty feet tall, stretched to his max, or compress to less than five inches. He remains his standard weight and keeps his original mass meaning his is either a very light air-inflated giant, or an incredibly heavy mouse-sized man. The smaller Basil is the harder he can hit through mass and force conversion, however he can also form himself into a large wave of crushing liquid or reach high up shelves in the kitchen using his giant form.

Hydrogen Explosions
Hydrogen is highly explosive, reacting to even small sparks with an immense sound and a fiery yield, (think Hindenburg Catastrophe) and Basil can produce cubic tons of it. The intense sound these blasts, and the fiery aftermath was what drove his parents to sending him across the world to enroll in Xavier's school in the first place, with his family hoping he would learn to control the dangerous ability. This fact, when combined with his naturally loud personality led to his alias, Reveille. His years of accidental explosions soon passed however and he became adept at directing dangerous explosive attacks towards nearby targets followed by the generation of a larger then normal electric spark, resulting in a deadly fireball which Basil can launch on a whim with ranges up to thirty feet and a max yield of one half gigajoule of energy. Not only that but he can form an even larger explosive cloud around his body without fear of killing himself due to his natural resistance to heat and flame, if not the concussive blasts themselves. As long as he maintains a thick shield of hardened matter around his brain Basil has little to fear from his own weapon.

Advanced Movement/Forming
Only Basil’s brain cannot be liquefied, meaning as long as his head would fit, he could fit the entire rest of his body through that opening. He can also reform different aspects of the human body which are lost during total liquefying. Such as eyes, ears, a nose, hands, feet, an elephant’s trunk, or octopus’s tentacle, anything Basil could imagine. And he can make as many of them as need be. For just a moment imagine a giant flesh colored blob covered in eyes and tentacles with thousands of tiny centipede legs crawling across the floor and you could begin to understand the horrifying potential here. If, by chance Basil is knocked out, falls asleep, or simply ceases to release any pure hydrogen into his body he will swiftly melt, grow, or in some manner reform into his usual human self, with all the pain, physical damage potential, and bodily functions that come with it.

Weaknesses

Electric Currents
While in his liquid state Basil is immensely vulnerable to energy discharges or static spikes. His body is very conductive, especially when he is liquefied, and receives small electric commands from his brain in order to move. If a stray outside electric current is introduced, while it won’t kill Basil, he will lose all control over his body and begin to spaz out until the foreign electrical current is no longer present.

Freezing
Basil does not react well to extreme drops in temperature, for obvious reasons. Even in arguably mild frigid environments like Canada in winter, or icy water slows his ability to liquefy, and if he comes into contact with dry ice, it could freeze him to the point where he can’t liquefy at all, becoming brittle and vulnerable to shattering.

Impact and Tear Trauma
Basil’s body becomes a liquid, or solid on his command, however, it must remain in some way in contact with his brain. If a hardened limb is shattered through force, or a part of his body is torn away from its whole this damage will correlate with actual physical damage later on when Basil reverts to his usual form. Those cells have to be regrown in their entirety, and although Basil can regenerate, it is a slow and painful process. Also, his brain is highly vulnerable being the only thing that can be properly damaged while Basil is liquefied. Any sort of standard brain trauma could result in Basil blacking out and reverting back to his original form, or even potentially dying outright depending on the severity.

Hydrogen Limitations
This might seem silly, seeing as hydrogen is one of the most abundant elements on earth making up more than ninety percent of the known matter in the universe. However, Basil burns through the stuff like it’s going out of style, especially if he’s shooting hydrogen bombs out of his hands. He gathers the element naturally through eating hydrogen rich dairy products or high protein foods, and also collects it from drinking lots of water. If Basil runs out of hydrogen entirely he would die, but fortunately for him his powers no longer work when he reaches a low enough level and he is forced to revert back to his human form, usually parched and with a strong craving for a glass of milk.

Prior to Joining the School.

For the first twelve years of his life there was nothing, Basil Floros for all he and his family knew was an ordinary child. He grew up in Greece, to a relatively poor family. They’d been hit hard in the economic crisis and after a car crash that left his father permanently injured they never managed to acquire a stable income again. That being said, Basil was never a resentful person. Taught to thankful and proud of what he had, and what he could attain even if it wasn’t that much. He probably would have gone on existing just like that, growing up to take on a hard labor job and scrape out a living close to home. At least he would have, if that day that changed his life forever had never occurred. Basil’s powers began to manifest themselves in obscure ways, that his concerned family at first attempted to ignore, even Basil, fascinated as he was with the strange bubbling that would come over his entire body, and the small blasts he could generate remained cautiously aware that this wasn’t normal. As the years ticked by the incidents began to grow more numerous, and despite the Floros’ best attempts to pretend nothing was going on were starting to realize something had to be done. But what? Basil was a relatively good kid, never getting into too much trouble, and he was always genuinely sorry for waking up the entire household at three in the morning with a small blast, or terrifying his grandmother with his bubbling skin.

It was only when Basil learned he could change his body during some of these episodes that his father finally had to put his foot down, demanding Basil cease whatever it was he was doing and forget it ever happened in the first place. Basil’s parents held suspicions that their child was one of the mutants gaining more public awareness across the world, and they feared for him, for Greece was never well known for its tolerance of such people. To protect their youngest son they tried to repress his abilities, hide them from the world but it proved to be a fatal error. Basil felt he had no control over the episodes, and they began to grow worse, and more common. After a particularly bad accidental discharge that nearly burnt his family home to the ground Basil’s father and mother decided something simply had to be done. They scraped some money together, all of their life savings in order to get Basil a green card and plane ticket to America, hoping to send him to the one place where Basil might have a hope of learning to control his “gift”, Xavier’s School for Gifted Youngsters. Only, Basil didn’t want to go. He resented leaving his family, and he resisted their efforts to console him into believe this was for his own good. He’d never been the best student, and he’d never been really interested in expanding his life outside of his home town, much less his own country. But in the end, his choice didn’t really matter. And at the age of fourteen he was sent with less than a hundred dollars in his pocket to a country he didn’t know, with a language he couldn’t speak, to be in a school he didn’t want to attend.

Post-Powers

Basil’s father always taught him to be content with his lot in life, even if it wasn’t what he wanted or what he enjoyed. He set himself to learning English and at least passing his harder classes. He worked hard, and his pride kept him from allowing himself to fail outright. The majority of his focuses revolved around learning to control his abilities so that he might one day return home and live a normal life. But if there is one thing being content causes, it’s a companionate love for what one has. Basil eventually became grateful for this school, and its teachings, and he began making lasting friendships. He was a generally happy person, and couldn’t stay resentful for long, even in this foreign land.

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Friend // Acquaintance // Frenemy // Rival // Enemy // Crush / Significant Other

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The Astonishing X-Men

Intrigued, naturally.

Intergalactic Space Adventurers- [ISA]

The one-eighty turn of events left even the sharp witted Naefario reeling in surprise. His fist pounded against the steel overlays covering the control panels in frustration, denting the protective durasteel but doing little else. Not only had the Ranger locked down in opposition to his incursion, his own crew was failing miserably at quelling the turmoil on the Gorefill’s battle torn bridge. The weaselly lackey he’d left in charge before was now dead, safe from Naefario’s sure retribution along with a dozen or so pirates who lay in grotesque forms upon the deck. Those who’d survived the ambush-counterattack scattered like cockroaches fleeing the light, scurrying into the dark corners of the Gorefill to hide from the avenging smugglers. A soft growl rumbled in Naefario’s throat and he cast about for some solution to this unexpected situation. Everything was suddenly turning against him on a dime, and surely the ruthless bitch he wished to make his wife would be along shortly to end him once and for all. Despite his worsening situation Naefario still had one advantage, with which he could negotiate his way out. Leaving Jean groaning on the command pad Naefario stalked over to Takashi’s unconscious form, grasping him by his tail and dragging him over to where the best cover available, Ursa’s command chair, sat. Depositing Takashi upon the chair like sack of potatoes Naefario turned just in time to see Jean crumple upon the floor, reaching for the forgotten pistol.

Quick as a cat Naefario leapt upon the discarded weapon, tossing it across the room and out of reach. Leering down at Jean, he scooped the hapless man up and placed him down next to Takashi, creating a human and chair shield with which to protect himself should anyone storm the Ranger’s bridge. “Nay, not today. Now listen here fish, yer gonna ‘elp me get out o’ this mess alive, an’ ye’ll do it by being silent n’ still. Nary a word out o’ ye, or I’ll blow yer head off, an’ th’ head o’ this’un too. Understand?"

Jean grimaced, wiping a dribble of blood from his nose. “I think you’ll find Miz Cooper don’t give a damn ‘bout me, nor th’ lizard an’ will happily blow us both apart just to get at you. Best bugger off fore’ her n’ th’ crew come to make your day even worse.” The bluff was good, and for a moment Jean thought he saw a glimmer of fear in Naefario’s eyes but it was soon gone, replaced by an ugly hiss.

“Be it as it may, I have no other choice. Not another word if ye value yer life fish.” Jean’s sullen silence was the only answer Naefario needed and the pirate captain clenched his metallic fist, his teeth grinding as different weapons clanked and clacked, cycling through his more devious cybernetic contraptions. “Sides’” Naefario said, more for his own consultation then to provide a witty reply to Jean’s warning. “Even if she’s my kinda gal, n’ kills ye outright, jus’ to get at me as ye say. I still bested ye n’ th’ lizard, an’ I c’n kill a hundred foes meself, single handed if need be.” His cybernetic hand whirled to a stop on a particularly nasty gun, the carbon disintegrator; specifically designed to slowly melt away carbon based life forms. The weapon was illegal in all sectors, and had a reputation for being one of the most painful killing mechanisms ever invented, after chloric acid to the face naturally. “This’ll do th’ trick.”

“REPLACE ITS HEAD HAHAHAHAHA!” From behind Naefario, in the suddenness of a lightning strike a single sparking pink robot rose from the ground rushing towards Naefario’s turned back in a whirlwind of burned florescent paint and lobotomy saws. Only his speed and well-honed reactions saved the pirate from a nasty incisor cut on the back of his thigh. Kicking the robot away Naefario raised his fist firing six bolts from the Carbon Disintegrator straight into Taylor’s robotic face. The funny thing about robots however, is that they are made of very little carbon, and Naefario only realized his mistake after Taylor lurched forward stabbing a scalpel into his gut. The pirate’s eyes bulged and he reached back to smash the bot into smithereens with his enhanced strength when a knife buried itself into his plate armor, scaring the brown flesh beneath. Naefario whirled, registering that Jean was standing, his arm outstretched as if he’d just thrown something, only for a second scalpel to find itself a new home under Naefario’s knee cap. His legs buckling under him Naefario fired a continuous beam towards Jean from the Carbon Disintegrator forcing the cowboy to take cover.

Jean ducked and rolled narrowly avoiding a grisly death as the purple beam burned the air where his head had been moments before. The knife, hidden for so long in his boot had been practically useless against the giant dreadlocked bug. He needed a firearm of some kind, and the closest one was across the room, with a clear line of vision for Naefario. And Jean didn’t think the pink bot was going to last too long alone against the pirate menace. Knowing there was nothing left for it Jean swiped off his hat, hurling the leather based headwear across the room. Naefario’s automatic targeting computer locked onto the spinning target disintegrating it in a second, which left Jean enough time to scramble away while also giving Taylor enough time to jab a third scalpel into Naefario’s body. The pirate, now resembling an ugly pincushion roared in pain, but resisted the urge to rip the bot into scrap metal, instead focusing onto the much more prevalent threat.

Leaping over the chair Naefario grunted and winced, limping across the bridge, firing again and again as Jean ducked and dodged the deadly Carbon Disintegrator. “I’M GONNA TURN YE TO ASH FISH!” The pirate screamed, spittle and green blood spattering everywhere. Behind him Taylor’s insane laughing continued and the pink bot pursed the fleeing Naefario a dozen scalpels raised in the air.

Takashi opened one eye lazily, his foggy brain taking in the scene of utter chaos before closing his eye once more, preferring to remain unconscious rather than engage in the madness occurring all around him.

Jean reached his revolver even as Naefario skidded to a halt a mere five feet away, his arm raised, ready to kill. Over the stereo the music changed to Sabaton’s Back In Control, and a feral grin grew on Jean’s face.

In a flurry of movement the two combatants engaged in the dance of death, the evil snarl on Naefario’s face matching Jean’s own. Deadly bolts were exchanged back and forth within the space of a heartbeat and the stale cabin air grew hot with the fury of their combat. Jean’s skill showed itself to the tenth degree and he scored half a dozen hits in the first half second, avoiding Naefario’s two shots altogether. However the pirate’s tough chest armor proved itself worthwhile, taking the plasma rounds and holding its integrity. Deciding to take the fight where he felt more comfortable Naefario closed the distance with an impressive jump just as the music took a more intense turn, his hand raised to strike. “S’DEATH ON THE WIND BILDGESCUM!”

Then, like a MLB player sliding for home plate Jean launched himself under the airborne pirate taking several shots at Naefario’s nether regions as he went by. “FUCK YOOOOOOOOOOU!”

Naefario landed hard, dropping to his knees and looking as if he’d rip the heart out of the devil himself if he was close enough to grab. He raised his head to scream obscenities at Jean when Taylor shoved a scalpel into his eye. Cybernetics sparking and shorting out Naefario struggled to his feet, a plasma bolt ricocheting off his shoulder as he beat a hasty retreat off the bridge, scrabbling at his face all the while.

Jean picked himself up, dusting off his jeans and vest, and wiping blood from his lip. Beside him Taylor’s insane laughter subsided into crazed chuckles, both looked worse for wear but were somehow still alive. Raising his pistol to his lips Jean blew away the smoke shifting his gaze to eye the durable pink bot sitting next to him.
“Taylor... Holy fuck I officially name you my deputy.”

Miraculous America

What’s the goal here? I think once this is done, we should do a time skip for a week later and have the next villain appear.

Miraculous America

His earlier concerns not forgotten Ossar drifted amongst his friends, all greetings given and received in their happy reunion. He truly appreciated the chance to talk to his old companions once more, but the kwami knew that it was only possible due to a grave error by their new masters. Not even four days in and already the four of them knew each other by name. Still, not wanting to spoil the good mood, and fully aware of the more carefree nature of his longtime companions Ossar kept his worries to himself, for now. He would broach the subject later. At the moment he embraced, and embraced again each of the three kwami in turn, pressing his rounded nose against each one’s forehead in a serpent’s kiss. “Indeed, such good tidings and friendly faces are a surely welcome sight for sore eyes.” He hissed rising a few inches off the floor and relaxing in midair. With a lazy flick of his head the snake closed his eyes, thinking for the briefest of moments before addressing Poyzz.

“Despised am I by knave and liar,
And after me the wise inquire.
Ask of me, what secrets hold?
Without a word I shall not fold.
In dark places I may expire,
But shall I rise over deceit and fire?
Find me out if ye require,
Of what am I, such deep desire?”

Miraculous America

Sure I’ll do the villain.

Ruins of God -- Dark Age Character RP (Barbarian setting)

You've caught my eye and I'm considering creating a mercenary captain character, with a command of a few hundred professional sellswords. I would like to confirm this sort of character, with a personal army like that would be acceptable in this world? I imagine if it was made up of men from Eodaland this wouldn't necessarily be uncommon.

Intergalactic Space Adventurers- [ISA]

The Ranger’s heavy cannons fired again, the red beams absorbed by the somewhat still functional shield of the pirate cruiser. Despite his lack of success against the shielding Jean grinned like a con man. “Your entire body is preferable, but the face is priority Miz Cooper. Oh, and the feet, don’t lose the feet, metal clunkers turn me, ah… Well never mind. All that matters is that you come back in as few pieces as possible. Let's just leave it at I’m neither king’s men nor his horse, and I can’t put you back together again.”

“I CAN! TAYLOR CAN PUT URSA BACK TOGETHER, USING ROBOT PARTS! I HOPE SHE LOOSES HER - HEAD SO I CAN REPLACE IT - WITH MINE! HAHAHAHAHA!” Jean winced as the whirling pink medical robot spoke directly into his ear. It’d snuck onto the bridge and was spinning a rather rusty looking circular saw like it fully intended to replace someone’s head. Shoving the suspiciously gleeful droid away Jean dug a finger into his ringing left ear, glaring daggers at the robotic medical assistant.

“You’ve got a few bats loose in yer software.” He muttered, “You, sit over there, away from me, AND GET THAT SAW AWAY FROM MY CROTCH, before I replace your head with a plasma crater. Not another word out of you, or I swear to all that’s holy I’ll end ya rightly.” Ensuring the bot was a sufficient distance away and silent, Jean fired the lasers again, ripping off a random bit of durasteel on the pirate hull. This one sparked and crackled with intense energy as it came away, lighting up the vacuous space in chemical light. The spectacle, though brief in longevity served a vital purpose in keeping Jean and Takashi’s eyes off the bridge’s doors which slid open silently, allowing a dark shape to slide inside like some oversized cat.

Distracted by working their separate tasks, only Taylor spotted the tiptoeing form, sliding seamlessly across the polished floor. The robot’s panic functions fired up and it prepared itself to warn the bridge of this impending threat, but another command flickered in its programming. ”Not another word out of you.” The robot began waving its arms wildly trying to catch Jean or Takashi’s attention, its head spinning like a top and looking thoroughly insane all the while. Jean caste a baleful glanced towards the seemingly possessed machine but went back to calibrating the turret, Takashi didn’t even look up.

The figure loomed up behind Jean, hands rising at unmatchable speeds, a thick voice rattling Jean into action.

“It seems ye ‘ave become becalmed beneath me ship ranger.”

Jean had always been known for his fast gun, in fact he was by far the fastest gun in the galaxy matched by none. But Naefario had a whole millisecond head start, and that was all it took. The revolver rose, for a half a heartbeat centering on the pirate captain’s forehead before a massive mechanical hand closed around it. The gun fired, screaming off in a random direction. Jean yelled reaching for the com, Takashi went for his gun, and Taylor screamed in programmed agony, a fresh hole burned through his mechanical vital functions.

Moving like a martial professional Naefario twisted on his heels bringing Jean forcefully out of the command seat, slamming his metal kneecap into the cowboy’s stomach, the gun came away even as the cybernetic pirate fired his palm blaster, the yellow plasma bolt connected with Takashi’s shoulder. The pirate let out a pained cry, slumping against his command station, but not out of the fight yet. Using his left and good arm he leveled his gun, the defiant yell on his lips replaced by a guttural cry of terror. In two bounds Naefario crossed the empty space between himself and Takashi, Jean stilled clutched in his offhand like a hapless toy doll. Takashi couldn’t even pull the trigger before the cybernetic enhanced fist ploughed into his head like a locomotive, the unstoppable force careening the little green lizardman a full length of the deck, until he slid to a stop, lying dangerously still, blood pooling from his ear slit.

Jean gurgled in rage, kicking desperately, trying to free himself from the vicelike grip of his captor. Raising the struggling sheriff into the air Naefario pounded him once into the command station, stilling any attempt at further resistance. Jean lay limp wheezing, the pirate’s oversized hand clenched around his upper chest and throat.

“Hold ye still now me little fish, I ‘ave use of you alive yet.” Keeping Jean secure under his hand Naefario fiddled with the Ranger’s controls, inserting a disk into one of the attachment ports. He then extended a thin wire from his throat stretching the conductor out and using a small bard to hook Jean’s neck. Working his jaw Naefario mouthed a few test words, his usual deep, gravelly voice replaced by Jean’s higher twang. “Fish, test, fishy test. Heeeeeey beautiful.” Although Jean’s accent wasn’t there, it was barely indistinguishable, most people might’ve thought it was Jean speaking, especially over a scratchy communication device. Leaving the wire connecting the two of them by their throats Naefario pressed a few more buttons on the command station. A electronic “bing” sounded, similar to Microsoft Windows opening, followed by a detailed visualization of the Gorefill’s bridge, including the lackey he’d left in charge.

The weaselly creature saluted when he saw Naefario on the big screen, an evil leer on his face. “Good news Cap’n, one o’ th’ crewmates captured th’ enemy Captain. We ‘ave ‘er in custody and we’re about to bring ‘er onto th’ bridge.” As if to reiterate this point the bridge doors swung open admitting the pretend captive Ursa and the pretend pirate Juniper onto the bridge flanked by half a dozen other pirates. Naefario laughed aloud, though it quickly died in his throat when he saw the state of his concubine-to-be. Ripping out the wire, from a plan that was no longer necessary he instead glared at the pirate holding his fancy.

“Could ye blackguards ‘ave fucked her up worse? One o’ ye tend to ‘er before she keels over!” A willing pirate stepped forward, dabbing at Ursa’s wounds with a healing ointment. Meanwhile Naefario sneered down at the disembodied arm the crew aliens were showing him. “Fair enough, promotions to th’ ones that did it, an’ a greater share o’ th’ booty. But are ye sure, there be no more o’ them smugglers aboard me ship oo’ might cause trouble?”

The weasel lackey shook his head. “Nay Cap’n, nary a one we’re sure.” He of course, did not know of Emmett waiting in the hanger bay or any of the other smugglers who were very much not dead.

“Excellent First Mate. Now continue tending to me pretty fish, but bring her closer so I might speak wit’ her.” He spoke to Juniper, and didn’t wait to see whether she obeyed. Motioning towards Jean’s defeated form Naefario laughed in Ursa’s holographic face, his voice cruel and menacing. “This could’ve been so easy, an’ maybe not so many o’ ye friends would’ve ‘ad to die. Instead ye decided to fight me, an’ th’ inevitable occurred. Such a shocker I know. But I always get want I want, and I want what I get. Harr, harr. Hahaha!” Naefario’s cruel laughter was taken up by his crew who beat their weapons against the walls and floor to raise the volume of the clatter. Naefario’s guffaws ended abruptly, and the crew aliens stammered into an awkward silence to match him. “Your ship is captured, your crew is dead or captured, and you are captured. You put up a fight, I’ll admit it. I admire yer tenacity and clever tricks above all else, and ye’ll make an excellent bride. I see many long years ahead o’ us together. Thanks for th' fun though, ye made me day!

“Hark lackey, I need ye to send six o’ th’ crew onto this smuggler ship to pilot it, the rest o’ ye start swabbing an’ clean th’ blood an’ gore off me ship. Well done crew, we win again ha harr!”

Miraculous America

Not a word was spoken of the incident, in fact, hardly any words were shared between father and daughter that evening. Tonya wasn’t sure whether she’d rather her father yell and be angry or not. Her good mood from saying Farwell to Eddie felt smothered by the thickened atmosphere of the deafening silence. Everything that could have been said had already been discussed, and that wasn’t much. At least her father hadn’t enacted even more punishments, perhaps he considered their damaged trust, and the school’s week long detention to be sufficient. Whatever the case Mr. Tabbet took a premature evening, mumbling some excuse about getting to work early tomorrow, leaving Tonya nothing more to do then catch up on a lot of overdo homework, and talk to Ossar about what had occurred.

The serpent kwami was less than pleased that they all knew each other by name at that point, but proved to be at least understanding of the predicament. His cold eyes, and disapproving mood only added to Tonya’s discomfort however and after only thirty minutes of struggling through math problems and history short answers she huffed out a “g’night Ossar.” And went to sleep resolving to do the work eventually.

The next morning Tonya arouse to find the house empty, and a note saying her father would be late coming home that night. Implying heavily that he’d missed vital hours of work yesterday. Fixing herself a bowl of cold cereal Tonya munched on the sugary kernels while watching Ossar swim about in a separate bowl of milk she’d set out for him. His rhythmic laps triggered an important fact she’d almost forgotten to share with him. “Oh, Ossar I forgot to tell you last night. The other kwami wanted to meet, during our detention. You were asleep, so you wouldn’t have heard.”

The snake’s body stilled, and he rested still on the surface of his milky sea, like a miniature sea serpent rising above the waves. “My friends and I have not come together in many long years. Our meeting shall be joyous no doubt.” But then the serpent’s eyes clouded, and he shook his head. “No, it cannot be. Trivial past-time might be enjoyable for the moment, but detrimental in excess. Should something occur and I remain incapable to enact my bond with the miraculous, all for my own selfish desires, thou might find yourself vulnerable to Rouge-Bat’s aggression. Better to err on the side of caution.”

Tonya laughed, sloshing the bowl, causing milk to flow over Ossar’s head. He rose into the air indigently, his forked tongue flickering out to clear his eyes and nostrils. “Rouge-bat doesn’t know who we are, there’s tons of schools, and thousands of kids our age in Louisville.” Tonya explained. She wasn’t having so great of a morning, and she’d be darned if Ossar missed out meeting his friends because he was worried about her being attacked. “What are the chances he attacks our school, during our detention when no one is there? Small I’d say. And we’ll be literally down the hallway scrubbing lockers. You are going, and that’s final.”

Ossar bowed his head, sinking once more into his bowl. “Very well, if thou orders it, it shall be done.” He closed his eyes, then said in a low voice. “My thanks Tonya.”


The matter settled Tonya collected her books and bag, tucked Ossar away into his hiding place, and set off to school. She missed Eddie on the walk there, having left a little earlier than usual. She was slightly disappointed by this but kept going, arriving early to her classroom. No other students had arrived yet and only her teacher was there, grading something or another at her desk. Tonya approached timidly, her eyes fixed on the floor at her feet. It was only when she brought her gaze up, and looked her in the eye however that her teacher acknowledged her presence.

“Yes, Miss Tabbet?”

“I wanted to apologize.” Tonya said. She’d been doing it a lot lately, it was starting to get easier. “I had a bad morning yesterday, and I was….”


“Disrespectful?”

Tonya cringed. “Yes, ma’am. Very.”

“Okay then,” her teacher leaned back in her chair, giving Tonya a small smile. “I forgive you, just make sure from now on to keep that temper in check. Now go take your seat, class is about to begin.”

The rest of the day went a lot smoother from there. When the bell finally rang releasing the students to freedom and Tonya to her punishment. She ran by the stairs, taking Ossar in her hands and releasing him to join the other kwami. He slithered across the floor, his eyes lighting up as he spotted the rabbit and ferret kwami already there. “My friends.” He hissed, curling about them like a constrictor might, and giving them a friendly squeeze. “Salutations, it hath been far too long, and thy pleasant embrace is a blessing upon this one for certain.”

Leaving them to their reunion Tonya joined Bella and Alex at the lockers, nodding a greeting to both of the girls.